Written Answers Monday 1 December 2008

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ambulance Service intends for call handlers’ basic training to cover the importance of asking about a personal care plan in an identified epilepsy case.

Shona Robison: Scottish Ambulance Service call handlers follow strict protocols to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate response. Their primary focus is to ascertain what the patient’s condition is at the time of the call and to carry out pre-dispatch instructions. This will not routinely include questions about personal care plans for specific conditions.

  Decisions about training for call handlers are operational ones for the Scottish Ambulance Service. They can be contacted at:

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  National Headquarters

  Tipperlinn Road

  Edinburgh

  EH10 UU.

Autism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training is in place for teachers and support staff to ensure that they are familiar with autistic children’s needs and can support them effectively.

Maureen Watt: Under the concordat, the Scottish Government is providing local government with £34.9 billion over the next three years, an increase of 13.1% across the period. Significant controls and flexibilities have been devolved to better enable local authorities to respond to local needs and priorities. This includes the need to meet local training requirements to ensure that they have a range of suitably qualified staff in place to support all pupils.

  Through the continuing professional development (CPD) framework, the Scottish Government fully expects all teachers to be able to recognise and know how to support pupils with additional support needs, including those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Additionally, a national CPD team is in place to support a network of local authority CPD co-ordinators to help share best practice. The team has particular expertise in additional support needs.

  Following talks with the Scottish Government, the General Teaching Council for Scotland has now added five new areas to their professional recognition framework, one of which is Additional Support Needs - Autism.

  The Scottish Government is also undertaking a number of other initiatives to help ensure that trainee teachers, qualified teachers and support staff receive the necessary training to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and confidence to work with all children, including those with ASD. For example:

  The Scottish Teacher Education Committee (STEC) Action Plan – Framework for Inclusion, a two year action plan to take forward inclusive education in Initial Teacher Education and Continuous Professional Development.

  The Scottish Government will soon publish The Autism Toolbox, an autism resource for Scottish local authorities and schools. The toolbox will draw on a range of practice experience, literature and research to support education authorities, and school staff to develop innovative and individualised approaches to teaching pupils with ASD.

Children and Young People

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the findings of a study commissioned by Barnardo’s that a significant minority of adults polled had negative views of children.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3F-1200 on 20 November 2008:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor1120-02.htm#Col12616.

  I believe the vast majority of Scotland’s children and young people are making a meaningful and positive impact within their communities. This report raises the gap that currently exists between reality and perception. The reality being:

  99% of head teachers believe that all or almost all pupils are generally well behaved in class.

  Over 185,000 young people are actively engaged with voluntary youth organisations across Scotland.

  And less than 1.5% of young people commit crime.

  To show his personal commitment to this issue the First Minister recently hosted a dinner with opinion-formers in the public and private sector. The aim of this was to move forward an ambitious agenda for our young people through Young Scot Active, an element of which will specifically target unfair and negative reporting on young people. This work is being further echoed in the development of the Youth Justice Framework and the Anti Social Behaviour review.

Children with Special Needs

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what systems are in place to ensure children with learning difficulties are identified and supported.

Maureen Watt: The identification of children with learning difficulties can happen at different stages of a child’s life. Therefore, a number of systems exist to identify and support these children.

  Health for All Children (Hall 4) guidance was issued in 2005 and introduced a core programme of screening, surveillance and health promotion activity for every child. The universal core programme of contacts forms the basis of a holistic assessment enabling health professionals to identify the nature of any additional support required on the basis of need.

  The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 places duties on education authorities to ensure that the additional support needs of all children and young people are addressed. Education authorities are required to identify, meet and keep under review the additional support needs of all pupils.

  Through the continuing professional development (CPD) framework, the Scottish Government fully expects all teachers to be able to recognise and know how to support pupils with additional support needs. Teachers should know where to go for specialist support and advice with regard to the educational provision for pupils to ensure that the appropriate assessments, interventions and strategies can be put in place. There is no single best approach.

  Later this year the Scottish Government will publish an early years framework in partnership with COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities). Within the context of the concordat it will be for local authorities and their community planning partners to deliver the outcome that "our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed". It will also highlight the need for high quality pre-school and early school education provision and support.

Construction Industry

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the consultation on a national trusted trader framework.

Stewart Maxwell: Analysis of the responses to our consultation on implementing the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 is now complete. Officials are currently in discussions on options for developing a trusted trader framework with a range of stakeholders including the Construction Licensing Executive and representatives of local authority trading standards officers. I expect to consider recommendations for progressing a trusted trader framework early in the new year.

Credit Unions

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that credit unions have to play in times of economic downturn.

Stewart Maxwell: Credit unions have important roles in encouraging members to save in times of financial difficulties and in providing them with access to affordable credit, particularly for those who may not be able to access mainstream financial services and products. Many credit unions allow members to save through payroll deductions as well as paying in cash and benefits direct. Additionally, a number of them promote financial capability by facilitating budgeting skills workshops for members.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes of dishonesty were recorded by each police force in each of the last 12 months.

Fergus Ewing: Information on recorded crime for specific months is not held centrally, however annual information on recorded crimes of dishonesty for financial year 2007-08 is contained in the following table.

  Recorded Crimes of Dishonesty - 2007-08

  

 Police Force
 Number


 Central
 8,179


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2,961


 Fife 
 11,436


 Grampian
 17,701


 Lothian and Borders
 33,975


 Northern
 5,739


 Strathclyde
 73,424


 Tayside
 13,303


 All Scotland
 166,718

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of comments by Tom Halpin, Temporary Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, reported in the Edinburgh Evening News on 15 November 2008, whether it is aware of any other police force that has recorded an increased number of crimes of dishonesty in recent months and, if so, what action it will take.

Fergus Ewing: Information on recorded crime for specific months is not held centrally. As such, we are not aware of any other police force, at this time, that has recorded an increase in the number of crimes of dishonesty in recent months.

  The latest official figures for recorded crime, and in particular, crimes of dishonesty, can be found in the Recorded Crime in Scotland 2007-08 Statistical Bulletin (Bib. number 46684).

Dyslexia

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to address a shortage in early intervention and specialist support offered to children with dyslexia as described in a recent report by HM Inspectorate of Education.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is taking a significant number of steps to help support children with dyslexia including the following:

  We are developing The Early Years Framework with COSLA, which is about moving from intervention when a crisis happens towards prevention, building resilience and providing the right level of support before problems materialise. The framework will also highlight the need for high quality pre-school and early education provision and support. We are looking to publish the Early Years Framework later this year.

  We are supporting the Scottish Teacher Education Committee (STEC) Action Plan – Framework for Inclusion, a two year action plan to take forward inclusive education in Initial Teacher Education and Continuous Professional Development.

  We are currently in discussions with Dyslexia Scotland to undertake work to identify and provide advice on the most effective assessment tools/techniques that would help teachers plan appropriate programmes of support for the learner.

  We launched and disseminated last year, the Scottish Government funded University of Edinburgh interactive training DVD to promote dyslexia awareness in secondary schools and help facilitate the transition from primary to secondary school.

  Curriculum for Excellence identifies literacy skills as a key theme across the curriculum with all teachers having a role in promoting language and literacy development; it also puts the learner at the heart of everything that we do.

  Finally, I would be happy to meet with Ms Baillie to discuss this issue in more detail.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the Mindroom survey published on 12 November 2008, which suggests that one schoolchild in every six may be affected by a recognised learning difficulty.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the findings of the Mindroom survey published on 12 November 2008.

Maureen Watt: Officials met with representatives of Mindroom to discuss their survey on 21 November 2008. During the meeting Mindroom advised that they are not publishing the evidence on which they base the claim in their "Policy Agenda" that one in six children in Scotland are affected by a recognised learning difficulty. The Scottish Government can therefore not comment on that claim.

  Officials have advised Mindroom that they would welcome further discussions with them as their business proposals develop.

Education

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the proportion of school leavers in positive and sustained destinations.

Fiona Hyslop: I will today launch 16+ Learning Choices, our new model for planning for the senior phase of Curriculum for Excellence. Through this vehicle, we will work with local partners to ensure all young people get an offer of appropriate continued learning, well ahead of their statutory school leaving date. Additionally, I will also announce a consultation proposing options for a coherent system of financial support for young people across a range of learning options, including school, college, work-based learning and non-formal learning.

  The consultation document can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/246154.

Electricity

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has taken on the potential health hazards of a 400kV electricity transmission line being routed near households and communities.

Jim Mather: The principal advisor to the UK Governments on the health effects of radiation, including the low frequency electromagnetic fields from power lines, is the UK Health Protection Agency. In 2004 the Agency published a Review of the Scientific Evidence for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields and related Advice on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields . The conclusions of this review are in keeping with related health advice from the World Health Organization.

  The public inquiry into the proposed Beauly to Denny 400kV transmission line heard evidence from a number of expert witnesses on the issue of potential health hazards. This evidence, and the reporter’s conclusions, will be reported to ministers who will take all material considerations into account when making a determination on the application.

Employment

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the software industry broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area.

Fiona Hyslop: Information on the number of employee jobs by industry is collected each year from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI), which is the official source of employee jobs data. The most recent year for which data is available is 2006. The ABI does not include self-employed jobs.

  (a) Table 1 shows the number of employee jobs in the software industry by parliamentary constituency.

  Table 1: Employee Jobs in the Software Industry by Scottish Parliamentary Constituency, 2006

  

 Constituency
 Number
 Constituency
 Number


 Aberdeen Central
 400
 Glasgow Baillieston
 *


 Aberdeen North
 400
 Glasgow Cathcart
 *


 Aberdeen South
 100
 Glasgow Govan
 300


 Airdrie and Shotts
†
 Glasgow Kelvin
 2,500


 Angus
†
 Glasgow Maryhill
 200


 Argyll and Bute
 100
 Glasgow Pollok
 100


 Ayr
 100
 Glasgow Rutherglen
†


 Banff and Buchan
 100
 Glasgow Shettleston
 *


 Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
†
 Glasgow Springburn
 100


 Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
†
 Gordon
 200


 Central Fife
 100
 Greenock and Inverclyde
 100


 Clydebank and Milngavie
 100
 Hamilton North and Bellshill
 300


 Clydesdale
 100
 Hamilton South
 100


 Coatbridge and Chryston
†
 Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber
 600


 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
 400
 Kilmarnock and Loudoun
†


 Cunninghame North
 100
 Kirkcaldy
†


 Cunninghame South
 100
 Linlithgow
 800


 Dumbarton
†
 Livingston
 500


 Dumfries
†
 Midlothian
 100


 Dundee East
 200
 Moray
†


 Dundee West
 200
 Motherwell and Wishaw
†


 Dunfermline East
 300
 North East Fife
 100


 Dunfermline West
 300
 North Tayside
†


 East Kilbride
 200
 Ochil
 200


 East Lothian
 100
 Orkney and Shetland**
 *


 Eastwood
 100
 Paisley North
 200


 Edinburgh Central
 800
 Paisley South
 100


 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
 100
 Perth
 100


 Edinburgh North and Leith
 1,600
 Ross, Skye and Inverness West
 100


 Edinburgh Pentlands
 700
 Roxburgh and Berwickshire
 100


 Edinburgh South
 200
 Stirling
 200


 Edinburgh West
 400
 Strathkelvin and Bearsden
 100


 Falkirk East
 100
 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale
 200


 Falkirk West
 100
 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
 300


 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
 100
 West Renfrewshire
 400


 Glasgow Anniesland
 100
 Western Isles
 *


 
 
 Total
 16,300



  Source: Annual Business Inquiry.

  Notes:

  1. The data are for SIC (1992) codes 72.20 and 22.33.

  2. The reference date for the ABI in 2006 was changed from December to September.

  3. These data are based on employee jobs rather than people in employment i.e. one person may have more than one job. They do not include self employed jobs.

  4. Data are rounded to the nearest 100.

  5. ABI data are workplace based.

  *Data suppressed as potentially disclosive. Data are suppressed under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 where the identity of an enterprise who made a statistical return could be deduced.

  **It has not been possible to analyse Orkney and Shetland separately. The data has been obtained from the Nomis website, as the microdata are not held centrally.

  † Represents figures of less than 50.

  (b) Table 2 shows the number of employee jobs in the software industry by local authority area.

  Table 2: Employee Jobs in the Software Industry by Local Authority Area, 2006

  

 Local Authority
 Number


 Aberdeen City
 1,000


 Aberdeenshire
 600


 Angus
†


 Argyll and Bute
 100


 Clackmannanshire
 100


 Eilean Siar
 *


 Dumfries and Galloway
 100


 Dundee City
 400


 East Ayrshire
 100


 East Dunbartonshire
 200


 East Lothian
 100


 East Renfrewshire
 100


 Edinburgh, City of
 3,900


 Falkirk
 200


 Fife
 800


 Glasgow City
 3,400


 Highland
 700


 Inverclyde
 100


 Midlothian
 100


 Moray
†


 North Ayrshire
 200


 North Lanarkshire
 800


 Orkney Islands
 *


 Perthshire and Kinross
 100


 Renfrewshire
 600


 Scottish Borders
 200


 Shetland Islands
 *


 South Ayrshire
 100


 South Lanarkshire
 400


 Stirling
 300


 West Dunbartonshire
 100


 West Lothian
 1,300


 Total
 16,300



  Source: Annual Business Inquiry.

  Notes:

  1. The data are for SIC (1992) codes 72.20 and 22.33.

  2. The reference date for the ABI in 2006 was changed from December to September.

  3. These data are based on employee jobs rather than people in employment i.e. one person may have more than one job. They do not include self employed jobs.

  4. Data are rounded to the nearest 100.

  5. ABI data are workplace based.

  * Data suppressed as potentially disclosive. Data are suppressed under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 where the identity of an enterprise who made a statistical return could be deduced.

  † Represents figures of less than 50.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on implementing the recommendations of the Sullivan report, A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: The Sullivan Report work programme being taken forward by the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Division covers the 56 recommendations, some of which require public consultation and others which do not require formal consultation.

  A consultation on proposals for improving the energy performance of existing non-domestic buildings was launched on 2 September and is about to conclude. In 2009, there will be further consultations on proposals for the revision of energy standards and compliance with the standards.

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with (a) Caledonian MacBrayne, (b) Western Ferries, (c) Argyll and Bute Council and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the future use of the Dunoon linkspan.

Stewart Stevenson: Discussions about the way forward for the Gourock to Dunoon route have taken place with all interested stakeholders. Specific discussions about the future use of the Dunoon linkspan have taken place with the current operators of the services and with Argyll and Bute Council.

Housing

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial assistance is being given to registered social landlords (RSL) in 2008-09 to allow them to install sprinkler systems in their rental properties, broken down by RSL.

Stewart Maxwell: From 1 May 2005 new build construction, conversions and alterations to buildings in Scotland must comply with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004. These new regulations contain a mandatory requirement for the installation of automatic fire safety suppression systems in enclosed shopping centres; residential care buildings; high rise domestic buildings, or where it forms the whole or part of a sheltered housing complex.

  In projects approved for grant funding since the implementation of this requirement, costs of sprinkler systems where required by the Building Regulations (e.g. Sheltered Housing) would be considered by Scottish Government Investment Division as grant eligible and they would be included when assessing individual projects. We do not hold information on how many projects have had systems included within approved costs.

  The standard does not apply retrospectively. We have not provided any grants to Registered Social Landlords for the installation of sprinkler systems in existing developments.

MSPs

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to involve former MSPs in its work.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government is committed to involving the whole of Scottish society in its work, and does so through mechanisms such as public consultation and by drawing on the specialist knowledge and expertise which particular individuals with experience of the private, public and third sectors have to offer.

  This approach to government is exemplified not only by the National Conversation, which has reached out to citizens and communities across Scotland, but also by the work of independent bodies such as the Scottish Broadcasting Commission (both Henry McLeish and Chris Ballance served as members of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, as did two former MPs - Lord Fraser of Carmyllie and the late Baroness Michie of Gallanach) and the Scottish Prisons Commission (chaired by Henry McLeish).

Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, including its frontage, approach steps and interior, for protected status under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

Linda Fabiani: When requested Historic Scotland assesses buildings for statutory protection under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. I am aware that Historic Scotland have now been approached formally and asked to consider the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow for listing and have accordingly commenced the assessment process.

Public Transport

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how payment of the remainder of its £500 million contribution to the Edinburgh trams project will be phased, specifying anticipated (a) timescale, (b) size and (c) purpose of each payment.

Stewart Stevenson: The detailed phasing of expenditure is for City of Edinburgh Council to manage. The Scottish Government will continue to meet its agreed obligation of 91.7% of expenditure, subject to annual limits of £120 million in this financial year and £149 million in next financial year.

Public Transport

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its contribution to the Edinburgh trams project will remain at £500 million if Phase 1b does not go ahead.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government will pay the agreed 91.7% of costs expended by CEC on lines 1a and 1b up to a limit of £500 million. This arrangement is not altered by the status of Line 1b.

Radioactive Waste

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much radioactive waste from Hunterston B and Torness power stations has been sent to England for storage since May 2007.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) authorises disposals of radioactive waste for treatment, storage and disposal from sites in Scotland, including Hunterston B and Torness, under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Copies of these authorisations, on which SEPA consults publicly, are available on request by telephoning SEPA on 01786 457 700. This information is therefore not held centrally.

  Information on specific radioactive waste disposal shipments made under such authorisations is held by the operators of the individual sites.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is exploring opportunities to accelerate the procurement of the Waverley line to bring forward the scheduled financial close from December 2010.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has engaged in market testing with potential contractors in order to expedite the procurement process leading to financial close. It is also examining options to accelerate some construction work in advance of financial close for the main contract.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimate is of inflationary costs on the capital expenditure for the Waverley line between May 2007 and the scheduled commencement of construction by May 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: In my statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008, I explained that I could not give an exact cost for the railway, because to announce a headline number would prejudice commercial negotiations. Inflation forecasts are subject to especial uncertainty in the current economic circumstances. For these reasons it would not be prudent to provide any further cost information on the Borders Railway project at this stage.

Rail Services

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17913 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 November 2008, whether it considers rail fares in Fife to be fair, compared with the rest of Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: I am satisfied that rail fares across all areas of Scotland are broadly equitable.

Renewable Energy

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the issues that will be considered at the public local inquiry regarding the proposed Baillie wind farm in Caithness.

Jim Mather: Scottish ministers have asked the reporter to consider the following issues at the public local inquiry:

  The relationship of the development to Scottish Planning Policy 6 in relation to the proximity of the proposed wind farm to existing dwelling houses;

  The relationship of the development to the provisions of the Caithness Local Plan in relation to areas with a presumption against development, and the Highland Renewable Energy Strategy policy and guidance;

  The cumulative impact with other wind farms in the vicinity and in relation to the likely impact on tourism, tourist routes and tourist destinations;

  Visual impact, and

  Impact on scheduled monuments.

  Details of the Inquiry will be made available by the reporter in due course.

Renewable Energy

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the omission of ornithology, construction, transport and local public opinion from consideration at the Baillie wind farm public local inquiry is consistent with a balanced inquiry.

Jim Mather: The Baillie wind farm application is being considered in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 2000. The statutory consultation exercise, provided all parties with the opportunity to make representations. We have received 28 consultee responses and 1083 public representations. Highland Council objected to the proposed development and Scottish ministers referred the application to Public Local Inquiry on that basis, in order to further consider the concerns of the council. Scottish ministers have asked the reporter to consider the following issues:

  The relationship of the development to Scottish Planning Policy 6 in relation to the proximity of the proposed wind farm to existing dwelling houses;

  The relationship of the development to the provisions of the Caithness Local Plan in relation to areas with a presumption against development, and the Highland Renewable Energy Strategy policy and guidance;

  The cumulative impact with other wind farms in the vicinity and in relation to the likely impact on tourism, tourist routes and tourist destinations;

  Visual impact, and

  Impact on scheduled monuments.

  In determining the application, Scottish ministers will consider all material issues including the recommendations of the reporter and the representations made by stakeholders.

Road Accidents

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road traffic accidents resulting in (a) injury and (b) fatality there have been on the A70 within the (i) south Ayrshire and (ii) east Ayrshire local authority areas in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The following tables show the number of reported accidents on the A70 within the South and East Ayrshire areas by severity of the accident.

  

 South Ayrshire


 
 Fatal
 All injuries


 2003
 0
 17


 2004
 2
 13


 2005
 1
 14


 2006
 0
 18


 2007
 0
 15



  

 East Ayrshire


 
 Fatal
 All injuries


 2003
 0
 19


 2004
 1
 15


 2005
 1
 14


 2006
 0
 15


 2007
 0
 9



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Roads

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive a report of the findings of the public local inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: The inquiry is scheduled to end on 11 December 2008 with closing submissions being heard in January 2009. The date of submission of the Inquiry Report to Ministers is not known.